Black powder: Difference between revisions
24.247.5.73 (talk) |
MARVEL~enwiki (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Black Powder for Hunting.jpg|thumb|300px|Black powder - here a 100 grams container - can be freely bought in Switzerland. ''See also [[Gun politics in Switzerland]]''.]] |
[[Image:Black Powder for Hunting.jpg|thumb|300px|Black powder - here a 100 grams container - can be freely bought in Switzerland. ''See also [[Gun politics in Switzerland]]''.]] |
||
'''Black powder''' is a type of [[gunpowder]] invented in the [[9th century]] and was practically the only known [[propellant]] and [[explosive]] until the middle of the [[19th century]]. It has been superseded by more efficient explosives such as [[smokeless powder]]s and [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]]. It is still manufactured today but primarily for use in [[firework]]s, [[model rocket]] engines, and reproductions of [[muzzleloading]] weapons. |
'''Black powder''' is a type of [[gunpowder]] invented in the [[9th century]] by the [[Arabs]] and was practically the only known [[propellant]] and [[explosive]] until the middle of the [[19th century]]. It has been superseded by more efficient explosives such as [[smokeless powder]]s and [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]]. It is still manufactured today but primarily for use in [[firework]]s, [[model rocket]] engines, and reproductions of [[muzzleloading]] weapons. |
||
==Description== |
==Description== |
||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
[[Image:Ancient powder flask.png|right|thumb|Gunpowder, when first invented, was carried in the horns of animals, for safety and convenience; though some time afterwards placed in flat leather cases or bottles, invented by the Germans, and called "flaskes." A remarkably curious one of this description, evidently of the time of Queen Elizabeth, is here represented, and is formed of ivory, somewhat in the shape of a stag's horn; the ornaments on it are carved in a good bold style, and represent an armed figure on horseback in full chase. The "flaske" is tipped at the end with silver, and measures about eight inches in length.]] |
[[Image:Ancient powder flask.png|right|thumb|Gunpowder, when first invented, was carried in the horns of animals, for safety and convenience; though some time afterwards placed in flat leather cases or bottles, invented by the Germans, and called "flaskes." A remarkably curious one of this description, evidently of the time of Queen Elizabeth, is here represented, and is formed of ivory, somewhat in the shape of a stag's horn; the ornaments on it are carved in a good bold style, and represent an armed figure on horseback in full chase. The "flaske" is tipped at the end with silver, and measures about eight inches in length.]] |
||
Gunpowder was invented in [[ |
Gunpowder was invented in [[Basra]] in the 8th century during the [[Abbasid]] dynsity. [[saltpeter]] was used by [[abu bakr ibn wahshia]] to preapare some kind of fire works, By the 11th century, gunpowder began to be used for [[military]] purposes. The first reference to missile throwing weapons appears in 1259 when bamboo tubes were used to launch baked clay bullets or packed pebble projectiles at the enemy, commonly refer to as a "firelance" (these bamboo tubes were sometimes attach to the shaft of lances or pikes, hence the name. Also, the common chinese word for "gun" is also defined as "spear"). This type of weapon was primarily a nuisance, rather than a danger on the battlefield. Paper charges of black powder attach to arrows were also used; the Chinese soon realize that these charges could act as primitive rocket motors and send arrows off without the aid of a bow. Many early mixtures of Chinese gunpowder contained toxic substances such as [[mercury (element)|mercury]] and [[arsenic]] compounds, and could be considered an early form of [[chemical warfare]]. The oldest metal [[cannon]] in China dates from 1323. From China, the military use of gunpowder appears to have spread to the rest of the world. It was used by the [[Mongols]] (1279 - 1368) against the Russians and was mentioned in a European manuscript by [[Roger Bacon]] in [[1248]]. The first [[European]] reference to cannon is a record of them being exported from [[Ghent]] in 1313. By the mid 14th century, early cannon are mentioned extensively both in Europe and in China. It was the Europeans who realized that only three ingredients were necessary for effective gunpowder, and who realized the importance of [[potassium nitrate]] in the mixture. |
||
In China as in Europe, the use of gunpowder to produce firearms and cannon was delayed by difficulties in creating metal tubes that would contain an explosion. This problem may have led to the myth that the Chinese used their invention only for the manufacture of [[firework]]s. In fact, gunpowder powered cannon and rockets were extensively used in the Mongol conquests of the 13th and 14th centuries and were a feature of East Asian warfare afterwards. The low, thick city walls of [[Beijing]] (started in 1406) for example, were specifically designed to withstand an artillery attack, and the [[Ming dynasty]](1368-1644) moved the capital from [[Nanjing]] to Beijing in 1421 specifically because the hills around Nanjing were good locations for invaders to place artillery. |
In China as in Europe, the use of gunpowder to produce firearms and cannon was delayed by difficulties in creating metal tubes that would contain an explosion. This problem may have led to the myth that the Chinese used their invention only for the manufacture of [[firework]]s. In fact, gunpowder powered cannon and rockets were extensively used in the Mongol conquests of the 13th and 14th centuries and were a feature of East Asian warfare afterwards. The low, thick city walls of [[Beijing]] (started in 1406) for example, were specifically designed to withstand an artillery attack, and the [[Ming dynasty]](1368-1644) moved the capital from [[Nanjing]] to Beijing in 1421 specifically because the hills around Nanjing were good locations for invaders to place artillery. |
||
Revision as of 00:12, 17 November 2005
Black powder is a type of gunpowder invented in the 9th century by the Arabs and was practically the only known propellant and explosive until the middle of the 19th century. It has been superseded by more efficient explosives such as smokeless powders and TNT. It is still manufactured today but primarily for use in fireworks, model rocket engines, and reproductions of muzzleloading weapons.
Description
Black powder consists of the granular ingredients sulphur (S), charcoal (provides carbon to the reaction) and saltpetre (saltpetre, potassium nitrate, KNO3; provides oxygen to the reaction).
A simple, commonly cited, chemical equation for the combustion of black powder is:
- 2 (KNO3) + S + 3C → K2S + N2 + 3(CO2)
A more accurate, but still simplified[1], equation is
The products of burning do not follow any simple equation. One study's results showed it produced (in order of descending quantities): 55.91% solid products: Potassium carbonate, Potassium sulfate, Potassium sulfide, Sulfur, Potassium nitrate, Potassium thiocyanate, Carbon, Ammonium carbonate. 42.98% gasseous products: Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen, Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen sulfide, Hydrogen, Methane. 1.11% water
The optimum proportions for gunpowder are: 74.64% saltpetre, 13.51% charcoal, and 11.85% sulphur (by weight). The current standard for black powder manufactured by pyrotechnicians today is 75% potassium nitrate, 15% softwood charcoal and 10% sulfur.
For the most powerful black powder "meal" a wood charcoal is used. The best wood for the purpose is buckthorn, but others such as balsa or willow can be used. The ingredients are mixed as thoroughly as possible. This is achieved using a ball mill with non-sparking grinding apparatus (lead), or similar device.
Black powder is also corned to change its burn rate. Corning is a process which first compresses the fine black powder "meal" into blocks with a fixed density (1.7 g/cm³). The blocks are then broken up into granules. These granules are then sorted by size to give the various grades of black powder. Standard grades of black powder run from the coarse Fg grade used in large bore rifles and small cannon though FFg (medium and smallbore rifles), FFFg (pistols), and FFFFg (smallbore, short pistols and priming flintlocks). Very coarse black powder was used in mining before the development of nitroglycerine and dynamite.
Black powder is classified as a low explosive, that is, it deflagrates (burns) rapidly. High explosives detonate at a rate approximately 10 times faster than the burning of black powder.
Although black powder is not a high explosive, the United States Department of Transportation classifies it as a "Class A High Explosive" for shipment because it is so easily ignited. Highly destructive explosions at fireworks manufacturing plants are rather common events, especially in Asia. Complete manufactured devices containing black powder are usually classified as "Class C Firework", "Class C Model Rocket Engine", etc. for shipment because they are harder to ignite than the loose powder.
History
Gunpowder was invented in Basra in the 8th century during the Abbasid dynsity. saltpeter was used by abu bakr ibn wahshia to preapare some kind of fire works, By the 11th century, gunpowder began to be used for military purposes. The first reference to missile throwing weapons appears in 1259 when bamboo tubes were used to launch baked clay bullets or packed pebble projectiles at the enemy, commonly refer to as a "firelance" (these bamboo tubes were sometimes attach to the shaft of lances or pikes, hence the name. Also, the common chinese word for "gun" is also defined as "spear"). This type of weapon was primarily a nuisance, rather than a danger on the battlefield. Paper charges of black powder attach to arrows were also used; the Chinese soon realize that these charges could act as primitive rocket motors and send arrows off without the aid of a bow. Many early mixtures of Chinese gunpowder contained toxic substances such as mercury and arsenic compounds, and could be considered an early form of chemical warfare. The oldest metal cannon in China dates from 1323. From China, the military use of gunpowder appears to have spread to the rest of the world. It was used by the Mongols (1279 - 1368) against the Russians and was mentioned in a European manuscript by Roger Bacon in 1248. The first European reference to cannon is a record of them being exported from Ghent in 1313. By the mid 14th century, early cannon are mentioned extensively both in Europe and in China. It was the Europeans who realized that only three ingredients were necessary for effective gunpowder, and who realized the importance of potassium nitrate in the mixture.
In China as in Europe, the use of gunpowder to produce firearms and cannon was delayed by difficulties in creating metal tubes that would contain an explosion. This problem may have led to the myth that the Chinese used their invention only for the manufacture of fireworks. In fact, gunpowder powered cannon and rockets were extensively used in the Mongol conquests of the 13th and 14th centuries and were a feature of East Asian warfare afterwards. The low, thick city walls of Beijing (started in 1406) for example, were specifically designed to withstand an artillery attack, and the Ming dynasty(1368-1644) moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing in 1421 specifically because the hills around Nanjing were good locations for invaders to place artillery.
Early Chinese firearm development was limited, due in part to China's isolation from competing empires. Without need for gunpowder weapons in the defense of the empire, there was little pressure to develop firearms technologies, despite an adequate technological base for producing key components such as cast iron and the matchlock. At the time, the only real threat was that of Mongolian hordes in the northern steppes of China. During the Ming dynasty, the Chinese military attempted to incorporate firearms in defense against Mongolian raiders. Soldiers would fire from a circular enclosure of shields at passing raiders. The slow rate of fire and poor quality of the firearms proved ineffective against the fast Mongol horsemen and their combat tactics, which contributed to the decline of firearm development in the country. By the time of the Qing dynasty, the Mongolian hordes had been subdued and the Chinese were left without any incentive to produce or develop firearms of sufficient quality, which contributed to their vunerabilty to Western aggression.
The origins of gunpowder and cannon remains controversial as most of the Chinese written sources are 17th century revisions of earlier texts. Chinese firearms failed to develop beyond the most primitive stage until after contact with European traders. Japanese sources state that handheld firearms were completely unknown (or forgotten) before the Portuguese landed (or rather were shipwrecked) at Tanegashima in 1543. The military adventurism of the Mongols (1279 - 1368) seems to have been the impetus for the development of gunpowder weapons in China, but at the time older forms of siege equipment such as the trebuchet still dominated.
The 15th through 17th century saw widespread development in gunpowder technology mainly in Europe. Advances in metallurgy led to portable weapons and the development of hand-held firearms such as muskets. Cannon technology in Europe gradually outpaced that of China and these technological improvements transferred back to China through Jesuit missionaries who were put in charge of cannon manufacture by the late Ming and early Qing emperors.
The latter half of the 19th Century saw the invention of nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose and smokeless powders which rapidly led to the replacement of gunpowder in many applications.
See also
Reference
- Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, & Pyrotechnics by Jack Kelly, Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-03718-6.
- A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder by J.R. Partington ISBN 0801859549
- Guns and Rifles of the World by Howard Blackmore ISBN 0670357804
- The Chemistry of Powder & Explosives by Tenney L. Davis, ISBN-0913022-00-4
- Firearms : a global history to 1700 / by Chase, Kenneth Warren. ISBN-0521822742